Combined, our management team has nearly a century of experience in fine dining.
Alan Teran, Owner
“The restaurant business is always changing; that’s what makes it challenging and interesting.”
A long-time Boulder resident, Alan has owned the Boulder Cork since 1981. He credits his highly experienced team and their ability to work together as a large reason for the Cork’s continued success throughout the years. With a trusted team in place, Alan is able to pursue one of his biggest passions: travel. By visiting restaurants both nationally and internationally every year, Alan is able to learn from and adapt the ideas of others in order to make the Cork better. “It’s important to understand who you are; you find your niche and you do it well,” Alan says. Alan has always enjoyed working in the full-service restaurant atmosphere and loves to use his experience and travel to continually improve the Cork. He feels the constantly changing restaurant industry forces him and his team to stay on their toes, always looking to improve, and that’s what he loves so much about the restaurant business.
Caitlin Cocco, General Manager
“I love watching multiple generations of Boulder families and friends come here to celebrate special occasions. Amazing memories are made here every day.”
Caitlin joined the Cork in 2012 but has been working in the restaurant business her whole life. Raised in a family of restaurant and hotel managers, Caitlin’s passion for great food and service is in her DNA.
Caitlin loves the family atmosphere and synergy of the Cork team, and with long-time employees and customers who become like family, it often doesn’t feel like a job.
As a Vermont native, Caitlin is passionate about supporting local farmers and small businesses and loves the Cork’s farm-to-table philosophy. As the Cork’s wine buyer, she loves being able to offer customers remarkable wines from across the globe, enjoys interacting with sales reps and wine makers, and hosting staff tastings each week.
When not at the Cork, Caitlin loves entertaining friends and family, trying out new recipes with her husband, a local chef, and raising their two young daughters.
Matthew Lichens, Assistant Manager
“I love the delicious food, relaxed family atmosphere and great team.”
Matthew spent years learning the food service industry before joining the Cork team. A native of Eugene, Oregon, he worked for 10 years as a bartender and bar manager in Seattle, then spent several more helping his brother start up a brewery while bartending at a restaurant in Lafayette. Even as a new member of the Cork family, Matthew already knows his favorite dish: the prime rib sandwich with au jus and creamy horseradish sauce! When not socializing with the Cork’s “local celebrities”, amplifying our hometown atmosphere, or making guests feel welcome, Matthew enjoys playing golf, snowboarding, fly fishing, watching football, playing guitar and traveling.
Kate Gill, Assistant Manager
“What makes the Cork unique is our consistency. It’s the service we provide and the delicious food that is always great.”
Originally from Maryland, Kate Gill has worked in the service industry since high school. In college she caught the travel bug and studied abroad in France and then Prague. She and her husband have lived in places as diverse as Taiwan and the Virgin Islands before following a friend to Boulder in 2012. Kate is glad her roaming soul led her to our fair city, and to her job at the Cork, where she started as a server and worked her way up the ladder. When she’s not managing, she loves going on hikes with her two pups, Bo and Hendrix, especially at local highlights like Sugarloaf Mountain and Eldorado Canyon. She also has four chickens that she spoils with Cork kitchen scraps.
Dean Hilberg, Executive Chef
Dean Hilberg’s culinary journey began in Colorado, where childhood memories of assisting his mother, a caterer and private chef, ignited his passion for cooking. Family dinners, especially the revered Sunday meals, were the stage where Dean’s love for food flourished. Inspired by his parents’ culinary prowess, he received his culinary education at the Art Institute in Denver in his early twenties, where he found his calling.
Dean has showcased his versatility and curiosity in a variety of kitchens. From mastering soul food at Steuben’s to crafting refined bistro fare at French 75, Dean’s repertoire knows no bounds. His tenure as an executive chef at Lou’s Food Bar allowed him to master the art of comfort food, which he describes as “food that makes you happy.” Dean’s career highlights include the Denver Milk Market The Greenwich and Executive Chef at Osteria Marco.
Dean brings his experience and passion to the iconic Boulder Cork. Drawn to its old-school charm and loyal clientele, he is eager to infuse the menu with exciting specials while preserving the restaurant’s timeless appeal. With a focus on fostering camaraderie in the kitchen and delivering exceptional dining experiences, Dean is set to make a lasting impression on The Boulder Cork and its cherished community.